Ukraine to complete Druzhba pipeline repairs this spring – Zelenskyy
Ukraine has made substantial progress in repairing the damaged Druzhba oil pipeline and is set to finish repairs this spring, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said amid a bitter row with Hungary over the disruptions to Russian oil supplies.
Source: Reuters
Quote from Zelenskyy: "We will complete the repairs because that is the agreement. I told them we would finish this spring. A lot has already been done there... Of course, destroyed storage tanks cannot be repaired quickly."
Details: The governments of Hungary and Slovakia, which have maintained close political and energy ties with Russia since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, have accused Kyiv of delaying the repairs. Ukraine denies this.
The dispute over oil transit has prompted Hungary to block a €90 billion European Union loan for Ukraine until supplies through the Druzhba pipeline are restored.
An industry source told Reuters earlier this month that April is the most likely timeline for completing the repairs.
Background: Hungary reportedly agreed to purchase oil from the United States during a visit by Vice President JD Vance to Budapest on 7 April, just days before key national elections in the country.
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